Non-metallic pump dispenser



June 8, 1965 w. G. GoRMAN NON-METALLIC PUMP DISPENSER Filed May 8, 1964 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM G. ;oRMAN BY @ig/ FIGZ.

' 3,187,960 NON-METALLIC PUMP DISPENSER William G. Gorman, East Greenbush, N.Y., assignor to Sterling Drug Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 8, 1964, Ser. No. 365,952 t 12 Claims. (Cl. 222-321) Pump valves of the prior art and also valves used for aerosols and pressurized product-s including the metering of foam products all have some metallic parts in contact with the materials dispensed so that they are apt to deteriorate because of the action of the container chemicals with respect to the metal. Also most of the prior art valves of this nature leak if the device containing the valve is inverted.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a pump valve made of plastic which is adaptable to pressurized materials as well as others, including foams, in which the materials to be dispensed do not at any time come' into contact with a metallic part, and in which the unit is completely sealed in closed position and cannot leak when inverted. 1 t

Further objects of the invention include the provision of a dispenser of the class described which comprises in general a ferrule to attach it to a container for the material to be dispensed, a tank, a body gasket for the tank, and a valve stem which is provided with resilient means toreturn it to its normal outwardly disposed, closed position, said stem having at its inner end a piston Working in a plastic metering chamber or the like in such a way as to provide a metered charge in the metering chamber when the valve stem is in its closed position, and including ports for the release of the material in the metering chamber upon retraction of actuation of the valve stem to an open discharge position while maintaining a new and irnproved type of wheel gasket closed,`said wheel `gasket opening upon return of the stem to its closed position to provide for an additional charge of material to be received in the chamber.

. Other objects of the invention include the provision of new and improved vent means for reestablishing equilibrium with the pressure of the atmosphere when the piston passes the same so as to provide for easy actuation of the valve stem under control of the resilient means therefor.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. l is a view in vertical section through the new valve construction showing the valve in closed Jrest position;

FIG. 2 is a similar view but showing the valve in open discharging position, and t FIG. 3 shows the piston of the valve returning toward closed position and causing the container content to enter the metering chamber.

In illustrating the invention, only so much-of the same has been shown a-s is necessary to explain the construction and operation thereof. To this end there is a ferrule which is of conventional construction usually being made of aluminum or some similar material and which is used to crimp the entire dispenser to the mouth of the bottle, jar, or other container to which it is to be` applied. The ferrnle is generally annular in most cases and extends inwardly as at 12 and then upwardly oncemore at 14 Y and again inwardly as at 16. The portion at 1,6 terminatesto define a central opening' 18 for the sliding disposition of the valve stem 20 which is plastic. ThisA valve stem has usually applied tothe exterior portion thereof a` thumbpiece, spray distributing apparatus, or the like, by which it may be depressed from the Vfully extended position of FIG. lto an inward position shown in FIG. 2,

United States Patent O position shown. In this position, the shoulder or stop 76` is raised slightly above the upper surface of the -piston lCe The stem is longitudinally hollow for most of its length as at 22 but it terminates at its inner end in a closed head 24. There is a port 26 closely associated therewith in a wall of the hollow stem, and this forms a passage providing communication between the hollow `stem 22 and the metering chamber which i-s here generally indicated at 28.

The ferrule at 12 holds an annular portion 30 of a plastic insert member 32 to a flange 34 of the plastic tank body 36, in turn holding this `to an annular body gasket 38, which in turn is held to the neck of the bottle, jar, or container, this construction holding all of these parts, i.e., the tank and the insert, in rigid connection with respect to the container.

The tank is substantially cylindrical as shown and it has a side wall 42 extending downwardly terminating in a nozzle-like member 44 holding a dip tube 46 which may extend generally to the bottom of the container or jar to which the valve is applied. Otherwise the wall of the tank is continuous and generally impervious except that it may be provided with a vent at 48 for a purpose to be described and it also is annularly reduced or indented at 50 so that there is an internal passage extending within the tank about the insert in the region of the vent 48. The insert also may have a corresponding vent 52 and it will be seen that these two vents communicate between the inside and the outside of the valve through the annular passage 50. The insert is slightly reduced in thickness in a cylindrical lowermost body portion 54 so that the annular passage Silis provided by the cooperating over-` lapping reduced portions of these walls.

The insert is open at its lower end and tightly rests at the peripheral edges thereof as at 56 on the enlarged rim of a wheel gasket 58. This wheel ygasket has a closed thickened portion 60 centrally thereof, with a thinner disc connecting it to the rim, there being a series of holes 62, 62 in the disc extending about the center. The thickened portion 60 inthe closed position of this valve rests against a knife edge portion 64 in the tank surrounding the opening 66 which provides communication through the dip tube to the metering chamber 28 when the wheel valve is opened.

The insert 32 has an inwardly directed an'ge at 68 which acts to guide the valve stem 20 in its sliding motion and also is a reaction point for a coil spring 70 which surrounds the valve stem and finds another reaction point in a ange 72 on the valve stem. Thus it will be seen that the spring 70 normally holds the valve stem in its extended closed position in FIG. 1 and has to be pressed in order to provide for the inward sliding motion of the valve stem to the open discharge position shown in FIG.

2. Also the ilange 72 finds a limiting point in the inwardly directed annular shoulder 74 on the insert and this action is shown in FIG. 2.

The stem 20 has a shoulder at 76 preferably annular and extending about the same, so that between the head 24 andthis shoulder 76 there is a reduced portion 78. This reduced portion extends through a piston generally indicated at and it has a waisted, rather elongated side wall which slidablyengages the inside surface of the insert. The thickness of the main body portion of the piston is such that it is slightly less than the extent of the reduced portion 78 extending between the head 24 and the shoulder 76 of the stem. The gaskets and piston may be of softer plastic than the other parts or of rubber.

With the parts as shown in FIG. 1 the valve is closed by rea-son of the spring 70 which holds it in the closed andthe port 26 is held closed within the central passage through the piston 82. As the stem 20 is pushed inwardly against the action of the spring 70, the shoulder or stop alavesa 7d engages the adjacent surface of the piston Sti, depressing the entire piston so that it slides inwardly with respect to the insert, but at the same time the port 26 becomes open (see FIG. 2) because it has communication with the inside of the metering chamber 2S through the indented portion 84 in the piston. This creates pressure on the contents of the metering chamber, whether it be liquid, gas or foam, andy this in turn holds the wheel gasket lat btight-ly closed against its knife edge lvalve seat 64. The contents of the metering chamber therefore clearly are expressed outwardly through the passage 22 in the stem Zitto whatever device or position is desired.

Therefore when this metered charge stops issuing from the stem, the operator will `release the stem and it will start to travel in the opposite Ydirection back to the closed position; As shown in FlG. 3, this causes a partial vacuum in the metering chamber which lifts the wheel gasket enough to cause the hole 62 to have free communication with .the passage at 66 and the dip tube 46 so that the metering chamber once more becomes filled. When the stem 2t? is returned to its original closed position, the first thing that happens is that the port Z6 once again closes by being obscured by the piston itself. Y

All of the parts of this pump except for the ferrule can be conveniently non-metallic so that the contents of the container nevertouches any kind of metal. Known plastics which are inert and have no deleterious effect onrthe contents will therefore not contaminate the contents of the container and also it will be `seen that the construction is such that there can be no possible leakage of any of the parts regardless of the inversion of the pump dispenser. The piston, of suitable softer material as respects the insert 32, actually acts as a gasket. The wheel gasket can also be made of suitable material so that it is firmly closed at all times except while being raised to allow the metering chamber 28 to become filled as described and as shown in FIG.' 3. The vents 48 and 52 are utilized to reestablish equilibrium with the pressure of the atmosphere but if a pressurized unit is used with this valve, these vents would not be needed. The spring 70 may of course be made ofmetallic material but this spring never comes in contact with the contents of the container and with the fparts all Vas tight as stated, being non-metallic and having suitable resilience, etc., the metering chamber will have the negative pressure described in order to cause refilling thereof, and the stem in its closed position holds the piston tightly in the position shown in FIG. l so that the vents and exit port are completely sealed.

It will be seen therefore that this invention is an improvement over prior art pump dispensers due to the fact that no metal ever comes in contact wtih the product used but at the same time metered amounts of material are provided, and the parts all operate positively. There can be no leakage and there can be no deleterious action with respect to the contents. Also in the event that the device'is to be used'with pressurized products, although it functions essentially as described above, itvwould be' especially useful for metering foams since it wouldexpel the product by a piston action as well as through expansion.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein` disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

l vl. A pump type of dispenser adapted to be mounted on the mouthof a container to pump out quantities of the contents of the container, said dispenser comprising means to attach the dispenser to the mouth of the container, a tank having a generally closed chamber extending `into lthe container, the tank having an entrance orifice into the chamber therein, the entrance orificefleading from the trance orifice' in the `reduced portion ofthe valvey stem.,

container'int'o the chamber, Va resilient valve member normally closing said yorifice but being capable of disengagement therefrom upon the provision of a negative pressure in the chamber,

a slidable valve stem extending from outside the dispenser into the tank chamber, said valve stem being generally hollow forming 'a passage substantially from end to end thereof, anV entrance port in a wall of the stem leading int-o the passage at the inner end thereof which is located generally within the chamber in the tank, means normally maintaining said stem in an outward inoperative position, said means yielding to allow said stem to be moved inwardly with relation to said chamber,

a piston, said piston engaging the' walls of the tank chamber andsealing the same, said pistonhaving a centralv aperture therein surrounding the valve stem and being positioned to normally close theentrance orifice thereof in the outward, inoperative position of said valve stem, said valve stem being movable relative to said piston to Ycause said entrance orifice thereof to become free of said piston to provide communication fnom the chamber within the tank to the passage in the valve stem," v and means on the valve stem engaging the ypiston and causing the same to move :inwardly with relation to said chamber exerting pressure on the contents thereof to force the latter thnough'the entrance port int-o the passage inthe valve stern while at the same time exerting pressure on the first-named valve, -maintaining the same in closed condition, y engagement means between the valve stem andthe piston to cause the piston to move in the opposite direction, the resilient means that returns the stem also thus moving the piston andcreating a negative pressure in the chamber causing the first-named valve to open, recharging the chamber. 2. The pump type of dispenser recited in claim 1 wherein the tank, piston, valve, and stem are all made of non- -metallic materials and comprise the-only parts of the dispenser that come in contact with the contents ofthe container at any time.

3. The pump type-of dispenser recited in claim 1 including an insert of non-metallic material located in said.

tank and lining the chamber thereof, and a stop on said insert limiting .the motion of the piston in an youtward direction.

4. The pump type of dispenser recited in claim 1 including an insert of non-metallic material located in said tank and lining the chamber` thereof, and a stop on said duced portion, the entrance orifice to said hollow valve stem being locatediri said reduced portion so that when the valve stem moves relative tothe Ipiston itmoves between positions where the valve orifice is closed by the piston or alternatively is free thereof for communication from the chamber to the* stem passage..

6. 'A pump dispenser comprising a tank, means to hold the tank in the mouth ofa container, an'orifice in the tank providing a passage between the contents of the oontainer andthe interior of the tank, a valve stem, said valve stem extending exteriorly ofsaidV dispenser body and having an open' outer endV and being hollow centrally thereof from its outer end vto a point adjacent the inner wall,

means normally holding saidvalve Vstem in its outwardmost position, means preventing-contact with a piston in the tank, means guiding the piston .for longitudinal motion with respect .jto said tank, resilient.

the contents of the container or chamber with kthe resilient means and including the piston, said piston having a central opening therein receiving the reduced portion of said valve stem, and normally covering the entrance orifice to said valve stem, said valve stem having a relative motion with respect to said piston when moved against the action of said resilient means to cause the orifice to move out of covered position with respect to said piston and providing communication between the chamber of the tank and Ithe interior passage of the valve stem, a valve in the chamber, said valve normally closing the passage from the container to the tank chamber, said valve being distortable under influence of a negative pressure in the chamber to uncover the lastnamed passage and thus provide for communication from the container to the interior of the chamber for recharging the chamber with the partial contents of the container on which the dispenser is mounted. 7. The pump dispenser recited in claim 6 wherein the Y tank, piston and valve stem are all made of non-metallic materials.

I8. The pump dispenser recitedin claim 6 wherein theY distortable valve comprises a disc-likevmember, means holding the same at the periphery thereof in fixed position, the center of the disc forming a closure for the orice in the tank, openings in the discwhich are effective to provide communication between the passage-from the container to the chamber `upon distortion of said disc so that the central portion thereof is removed from the orifice in the tank and allows flow of material therethrough.

9. The pump dispenser recited in claim 6 including an insert in said tank, stop means on said insert for limiting motion of said piston in one direction.

10. The pump dispenser recited in claim 6 including an insert in said tank, stop means on said insert for limiting moti-on of said piston in one direction, and means on the insert limiting the inward motion of the valve stem.

11. The pump dispenser recited in claim 6 including an insert in said tank, stop means on said insert for limiting motion of said piston in one direction and on the insert holding the disc valve in position.

12. The pump dispenser recited in claim 8 including means providing a passage for communication between the side of the piston opposite from the chamber with the interior of the container, said last-named passage being normally closed by the piston in its inoperative position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,573,823 2/26 Gray 103-189 1,909,454 5/33 Brunner 103-188 X 1,982,887 12/34 Tanner 103-188 X 2,683,060 7/54 Wise et al. `103-225 X `3,131,646 5/64 Parrott 10B-188 FOREIGN PATENTS 942,161 4/ 5 6 Germany.

LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PUMP TYPE OF DISPENSER ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON THE MOUTH OF A CONTAINER TO PUMP OUT QUANTITIES OF THE CONTENTS OF THE CONTAINER, SAID DISPENSER COMPRISING MEANS TO ATTACH THE DISPENSER TO THE MOUTH OF THE CONTAINER, A TANK HAVING A GENERALLY CLOSED CHAMBER EXTENDING INTO THE CONTAINER, THE TANK HAVING AN ENTRANCE ORIFICE INTO THE CHAMBER THEREIN, THE ENTRANCE ORIFICE LEADING FROM THE CONTAINER INTO THE CHAMBER, A RESILIENT VALVE MEMBER NORMALLY CLOSING SAID ORIFICE BUT BEING CAPABLE OF DISENGAGEMENT THEREFROM UPON THE PROVISION OF A NEGATIVE PRESSURE IN THE CHAMBER, A SLIDABLE VALVE STEM EXTENDING FROM OUTSIDE THE DISPENSER INTO THE TANK CHAMBER, SAID VALVE STEM BEING GENERALLY HOLLOW FORMING A PASSAGE SUBSTANTIALLY FROM END TO END THEREOF, AN ENTRANCE PORT IN A WALL OF THE STEM LEADING INTO THE PASSAGE AT THE INNER END THEREOF WHICH IS LOCATED GENERALLY WITHIN THE CHAMBER IN THE TANK, MEANS NORMALLY MAINTAINING SAID STEM IN AN OUTWARD INOPERATIVE POSITION, SAID MEANS YIELDING TO ALLOW SAID STEM TO BE MOVED INWARDLY WITH RELATION TO SAID CHAMBER, A PISTON, SAID PISTON ENGAGING THE WALLS OF THE TANK 